How to find the vertical asymptotes of a rational function

The video tutorial explains how to identify discontinuities in rational expressions by setting the denominator to zero. It covers the identification of vertical asymptotes and the importance of factoring expressions to determine non-removable discontinuities. The tutorial emphasizes simplifying rational expressions to identify any removable discontinuities or holes.

What method can be used to factor the denominator of a rational expression?

Why is it important to simplify a rational expression?